Palaeontologists on the books and toys that inspired a lifelong love of dinosaurs

Playthings or formative figures? A closer look at the children's books, films and plastic tat that kickstarted palaeontology careers

I remember watching an episode of Noel's House Party, a Saturday night prime time family friendly TV show with an elaborate set based in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom. Part variety show, pantomime, talk show, game show with puppets and candid camera skits that aired on British television in the 1990s. One segment of the show involved children undertaking a challenge to win some sort of 90s prize - probably a PlayStation or a lifetime supply of Sunny Delight or something.

The challenge in the episode that sticks in the mind is one where a boy who was really into dinosaurs had to identify a bunch of dinosaur models correctly to win. Each dinosaur was under a cover on a plinth and were unveiled in turn for the boy to have a go at identifying. As a precocious young dinosaur fan myself I was glued to the TV under the expectant gaze of my family, waiting for me to deliver the right answers at home. As each one of the dinosaur models was unveiled I knew the correct identifications, as did the hopeful young contestant. He won the prize and everyone on the set proclaimed him as some kind of child genius (as I remember it).